Digitization Addresses ‘Real Problems,’ Streamlines Compliance

Q: How has Detecno transformed its processes to meet the needs of the Mexican market? 
A: We have made significant progress by focusing on solving real problems within companies, standing out for our prioritization of regulatory compliance and digital transformation. The mandatory implementation of electronic invoicing in Mexico was a crucial event that forced companies to improve their operational efficiency. We took advantage of this need to develop a portfolio of solutions that not only complied with regulations, but also optimized internal processes, allowing us to build an ecosystem that has evolved from an obligation to an efficiency tool.

Q: In which industries has Detecno found greater penetration in both the Mexican and Latin American markets? 
A: We initially focused on big Mexican and foreign corporations that were looking for comprehensive consulting and robust software solutions beyond a basic software implementation. We focused mainly on the retail sector, in which operational and transactional challenges demand advanced and highly transactional solutions. We later moved into the industrial and education sector and, more recently, into the banking sector, where we have landed, two of Mexico's leading banks, right now we cover almost every sector and every type of business, ranging from individuals, SMB and big corporations; e-invoicing is applicable to all industries.

We have expanded our capacity to add value with an ecosystem of solutions that includes the possibility to have a Vendors Portal with fiscal vault, to digitally sign documents as a Certification Services Provider (doc2sign.com), execute digital fiscal audits (fispal.mx), EDI services (tredicom), documents management (Exppedify.com), active blacklist validation (https://siconf.io), accounting services for individuals (contabilizate.com) and basically creating solutions for real market necessities for a variety of countries.

Q: What are the main challenges that Mexican companies face on their path to digital transformation and how is Detecno helping them overcome those challenges?
A: One of the main challenges is the fear of change, which manifests itself in the resistance to adopting new technologies. This challenge is divided into two: forced and innovative transformation. Electronic invoicing, initially imposed by regulations, has proven to be an effective tool by eliminating paper, reducing logistical costs, and optimizing processes. Something which has become an eye opener for implementing new technologies for boosting their digital transformation path and compliance. Digital transformation comes faster from understanding the added value benefits of these technologies. 

We help overcome these challenges by focusing on demonstrating savings and operational improvements. For example, with our digital signature solution given as a Certification Service Provider (doc2sign.com) which is an efficiency tool; not yet mandatory, we have gone from processing less than 10,000 contracts annually in 2016 to over 100 million in 2023, evidencing a commitment of companies of going digital and boosting their efficiency.      

Q: What are the most common challenges Mexican companies face when adapting to e-invoicing regulations? 
A: Electronic Invoicing required Mexican companies to combine tax knowledge with technological skills when adapting to e-invoicing regulations. Accountants must understand both the tax rules and the technologies involved in order to have the capacity to anticipate and manage possible differences with the tax authority. Constant changes in regulations compound this challenge. Detecno has understood this need by creating a dedicated regulatory support area that helps companies correctly interpret and apply SAT regulations. This regulatory support complements our technical service, addressing the needs of companies of all sizes and providing expert accompaniment in both regulatory and technological compliance.

Q: How is cloud integration changing the industrial landscape in Mexico and what opportunities has Detecno found as a result of this integration?
A: Cloud integration has significantly transformed the industrial landscape in Mexico, driving companies to adopt cloud services instead of keeping all services on local servers. This shift has allowed companies to reduce internal operating costs and focus on using more flexible and scalable solutions. While some skepticism and challenges remain, such as availability or security incidents that have affected cloud providers, reducing market confidence in the cloud, nevertheless the benefits outweigh the concerns. We have identified key opportunities in this context, such as optimizing enterprise technology infrastructure and reducing physical maintenance.

In order to mitigate any possible scenario, we rely on 3 infrastructure Cloud partners; Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. 

Q: How is Detecno integrating AI into its solutions and what impact will it have on the industry in the coming years? 
A: We are integrating AI into our solutions primarily to improve our clients overall experience, to become more efficient and to provide better assistance to our customers. A prime example is the development of Sara; who is in training and going live in November 2024, an AI e-invoicing expert that uses artificial intelligence to provide accurate and detailed answers in real time, a process that would have required years of training otherwise. We also created “Contabilízate”, an application that automates the categorization of tax deductions for individuals dependending on the corresponding tax regime and activity, simplifying the process, optimizing deductions and reducing costs. The integration of AI in these processes not only improves efficiency and accuracy, but also facilitates the digital transformation of companies, allowing a more agile and effective management of tax and accounting processes. In the coming years; without a doubt, AI will continue to revolutionize this and every other industry by offering more automations and process improvements based on AI, driving greater profits, efficiency and optimization in business management.

Q: What measures does Detecno implement to ensure that its solutions are not only tax compliant, but also meet the highest levels of cybersecurity?
A: As a regulated company by both the SAT as a PAC and as a PSC by the Ministry of Economy, cybersecurity has always been part of our business plan, we have always recognized its importance and established a specialized department. We understand that we have one of our clients biggest assets; their information. Our team, made up of certified professionals, implements exhaustive processes, coordinates penetration testing, risk analysis, and vulnerability scans, following best practices based on the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and ISO 27001; in which we are certified. Our cybersecurity policy reinforces our commitment to data protection and provides an additional layer of confidence for our clients, some of them which are listed on international stock exchanges.

Q: With a solid base in the Mexican market, what are Detecno's next big bets in terms of expansion? 
A: Since we started operations in Mexico in 2008, we have grown our market share and reach every year as well as we have expanded our presence to 11 countries in Latin America, including countries like Colombia, Panama and El Salvador. Despite our regional growth, Mexico remains as the market with more potential for growth, given its economic size compared to other Latin American economies, excluding Brazil. 

Our main goal is to become a one stop shop for any multinational enterprise that requires an electronic invoicing or digital transformation partner across latam, and as we keep growing keep process simple in order to maintain the efficiency and control that we offer our multinational clients, this becomes great to this type of corporation because tax regulations and technological standards differ depending on each country and instead of dealing with many vendors they just deal with one.          

Q: What are the key target sectors for Detecno?
A: While we have a solid presence in key sectors, such as retail, banking, and industry, we also understand that more than 90% of companies in Mexico are small and medium-sized. This has motivated us to develop robust and accessible solutions for these sectors. We want to facilitate digitization and eliminate the fear of technology among smaller companies, which not only benefits them, but also improves the competitiveness of smaller suppliers within the supply chain. Our goal is to position ourselves among the Top 5 e-invoicing providers in the region and consolidate our leadership in the digital signature market over the next three years.